By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
The Minister of State for Matabeleland South Province and Devolution, Honorable Albert Nguluvhe has toured the flood-affected Dulibadzimu Hostels in Ward Four, Beitbridge Urban, to assess the situation following the circulation of social media videos showing the flats submerged in water.
The hostels accommodate 54 residents, of whom 27 are City Council employees.
The visit was intended to allow the Minister to witness the situation firsthand and engage stakeholders on possible long-term solutions.
Speaking during the tour, Hon. Nguluvhe said the main objective was to address the flooding problem, which he noted has persisted for several decades.
“This visit is aimed at finding a permanent solution to a problem that has affected these hostels for many years. Temporary measures will not solve this,” he said.
During the assessment, he discovered that 27 families residing at the hostels are not council employees, and are allegedly paying US$20 per month in rent to the City Council.
“I have discovered that some of the occupants are not council workers, yet they are paying rent. These hostels were built for temporary accommodation for council employees, not for permanent settlement,” he said.
Hon. Nguluvhe directed the Municipality of Beitbridge to relocate its workers to better accommodation and remove other tenants, stressing that continued occupation was worsening the flooding problem.
He also instructed the City Council to clear the drainage system and desilt the Wamlala River within three months to allow the smooth flow of water and reduce flooding.
Echoing the Minister’s sentiments, Beitbridge West Member of Parliament, Honourable Thusani Ndou, who was part of the delegation, said he had visited the area a day earlier and found the situation to be severe.
“Households around Ward Four, including markets and the stadium, were flooded. The situation was bad and we need a lasting solution as highlighted by the Minister,” said Ndou.
He recommended that residents of the hostels be relocated urgently, especially as the rainy season continues, to avoid potential loss of life.
Meanwhile, Municipality of Beitbridge Town Clerk, Loud Ramakgapola, said the local authority was concerned about the flooding, which he said has been ongoing for over the past five years.
“As a council, we had planned to re-plan the area through an urban renewal programme and we ran tenders for that, but the process was unsuccessful. We are now going to request direct procurement approval from the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe,” he said.
Ramakgapola said the immediate plan was to desilt all streams and ensure the free flow of water around Ward Four and surrounding areas